President Joe Biden has officially kicked off his re-election campaign with a scathing critique of former President Donald Trump. In a fiery speech near Valley Forge, outside Philadelphia, Biden labeled Trump a “loser” and a danger to democracy.
Biden directly blamed Trump and his supporters for forsaking democracy following the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. “Today, we gather in a new year, some 246 years later, just one day before January 6 — a date forever seared in our memory because it was on that day that we nearly lost America, lost it all,” Biden said.
The President equated Trump’s political maneuvers with those of Adolf Hitler and expressed concern about Trump’s utilization of a prison choir of January 6 rioters at a campaign rally. Biden accused Trump of assaulting democracy not just in the past but also in his promises for the future. “He’s being straightforward. He’s not hiding the ball,” Biden added.
Trump, on the other hand, retaliated in an interview with Fox News Digital. He labeled Biden as a “true threat to democracy” due to his incompetence. At a campaign rally in Sioux Center, Iowa, Trump accused Biden of exploiting George Washington’s legacy and listed a string of failures and corruption allegations against him.
The war of words between Biden and Trump comes at a crucial time when Trump’s eligibility to run for president is under scrutiny. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the potential disqualification of Trump from the Colorado ballot over his alleged involvement in the Capitol attack. This decision could have a significant impact on Trump’s inclusion in ballots across several states, adding uncertainty to the 2024 presidential race.
Both Biden and Trump are leading contenders in the primary race of their respective parties. According to a recent weekly Morning Consult poll, Trump received 42% of the vote, while Biden received 41%. However, 11% of voters selected “Someone Else,” and 5% selected “Don’t Know.”
The ongoing feud between Biden and Trump highlights the deep political divide in the United States. As the 2024 presidential race looms closer, tensions are expected to rise, and the battle for the nation’s leadership will intensify. Only time will tell who will come out on top in this highly contentious and closely watched political contest.